Israeli Scientist Elected to National Academy of Sciences

The National Academy of Sciences announced today the election of its second Israeli foreign associate. He is Aharon Katzir-Katchalski, head of the polymer research department at the Weizmann Institute of Science at Rehovoth. His brother, Ephraim, was elected to the Academy five years ago. They are the only Israelis among its 117 foreign associates, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was told. Dr. Katzir-Katchalski is engaged in research on ionized groups in proteins, according to the National Academy of Sciences. He concentrates on electrolytic properties of chain molecules. His work led to the opening in the late 1940s of a new science known as polyelectrolyte research. His brother is a biophysicist who also works at the Weizmann Institute. Election to the National Academy is the highest honor the U.S. can bestow on a foreign scientist.